Albuquerque is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County.
The city was founded in 1706 as La Villa de Alburquerque by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, the governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. It was named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, who served as the 10th Duke of Alburquerque and Viceroy of New Spain.
Historically, Albuquerque functioned as an outpost on El Camino Real, a significant route that linked Mexico City to the northernmost territories of New Spain.